Magpies fans must simply be baffled in a good way after this summer. Owner Mike Ashley spent a pair of years doing very little besides selling off key assets — Andy Carroll, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba were all sold for big money — and then used this summer to smartly and quietly build up a team that could again challenge for Europe.

Beleaguered boss Alan Pardew had a European contender last year before the club’s sale of Cabaye and his head butting of a Hull City player sent Newcastle into a tailspin that dropped them into tenth place. Now, he’s picked up incredible depth in the attack and offset to sale of Mathieu Debuchy with younger, cheaper Dutch star Daryl Janmaat. Life could be good on Tyneside.

Last season: As stated, the Magpies were cruising through December, even picking up their first Old Trafford win in decades when Cabaye keyed the team past Manchester United. But Pardew’s head butt of David Meyler kicked a massive losing streak into gear, and many fans were started-at-best and crushed-at-worst when the manager kept his job in the summer.

Yes, the same nutcase who famously became Holland’s hero with his penalty kick antics to best Costa Rica. If you have been paying attention to Newcastle, you’ll know that Krul is among the most under appreciated goalkeepers in the Premier League. His million-save performance against Tottenham last year keyed his run to PL goalkeeper of the month, and his injury late in the year is one of the things that crippled the season. If Newcastle keeps Krul through the transfer window, the sky will be the limit.

Coaches’ Corner:Alan Pardew

The second-longest tenured manager in the Premier League is a tempestuous boss capable of sublime tactics but also questionable substitution patterns and an over-reliance on in-game tricks that worked once “so why wouldn’t they work 100 times?” Pardew knows how to set up his team for a game, but the rest almost seems up to chance. Get in his doghouse — cough, Hatem ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux — and no amount of fan posturing will get you out. Will be on a short leash after all the money Ashley spent this summer.

PST predicts: A top-half finish at a minimum, with the possibility for more. Newcastle’s attack will be as strong as its been in a long time, and if they could challenge for Europe if they get the defensive performances of last season from Cheick Tiote and Mike Williamson to go with a healthy Fabricio Coloccini. Still, it may not be enough this year, as the Magpies finish a strong 8th.

Sorry, I say this with the most respect for your work, but as a lifelong Toon fan, you’re wrong. He’s pushed our best striker since Shearer (Ba) outside to the wing and killed chances of him signing a new deal. He’s deployed Sissoko on the wing time after time when he is a box to box midfielder. Not to mention LEFT BACK, LEFT BACK, LEFT BACK.